Asylum Part 3

At the Smallville Medical Center…

Lana had never experienced pain like this before. And considering how in the past several months she nearly had the life choked out of her and went through an attempted robbery where glass was flying everywhere, that was saying something.

Doctors had given her strong pain medications. On a good day, Lana succumbed to a deep sleep. Nurses had to tell her how long she had been at the hospital. On a day she was awake, Lana could only think about the pain in her leg. Trying to focus on her homework or a book or the television could not distract her enough. Once the pain got slightly more tolerable, the physical therapist said it was time for Lana to learn how to walk again.

Lana remembered how to walk, but only in her mind. Her body was not cooperating. The physical therapist had her walk, or more accurately, limp, up and down a designated path with bars on either side for support. Every time her heel met the mat, her body protested at having any weight put on it. It was all Lana could do to grit her teeth and make it to the edge.

"That's enough for today, sweetie. Good job."

Lana gave a prayer of thanks that her suffering was done for the day. Now she could return to her bed and get all the weight off her healing leg. There was a small sound of applause as Lana reached for her crutches.

"Van. Hi."

"I didn't scare you this time. I'll take this as a win." Van flashed a grin.

"What are you doing here?" Lana shifted her weight so she could move forward.

"I was in the neighborhood. Thought I'd stop by and check in on how you were doing."

"That's sweet. Thanks. Well, if you saw any of that," Lana motioned with her head to her personal torture device, "that is exactly how it's been going."

"Looks painful. But you gotta push through it. We both know you have one more lap in you. Let's see it." Van tapped on the bars.

"I'm voting 'no'." Lana's body was shaking from the exertion she had just been through. Her forehead was dotted with sweat. All Lana wanted to do was lie down.

"Come on."

"Van, I haven't walked in a month."

"And feeling sorry for yourself won't get you up a flight of stairs. This is one battle only you can fight. No one else is coming; you're on your own."

I know.

Lana choked down the lump that formed in her throat. Plenty of visitors had stopped in to see her and wish her to get well. Chloe and Mr. Sullivan stopped by the most. Her side table and windowsill were covered with "Get Well" cards and flowers. But there two people Lana cared deeply about that had not been to see her. The first person was Lex; his incarceration in Belle Reve made a visit out of the question.

The second person was Clark. Throughout her ordeal, Clark was nowhere to be found. Nurses reported that he had been the one to bring her in, but since she first came to the hospital, Clark hadn't called or stopped by. All she received from him was a Hallmark card with a standard poem inside. He only added one line at the bottom with his signature:

I'll keep my promise this time.

Lana wondered what promise he was referring to. She had tried calling, but Clark never picked up the phone. If she called the Kent landline, his father or mother told her that he just left or wasn't available. For a reason Lana could not understand, Clark had abandoned her in her time of need.

"Thanks Van for stopping by." Lana limped on her crushes back to her room.

At Belle Reve…

Jeff Palmer was escorted into the visitation room. It was like what he had seen in movies; a simple room with a table and two chairs. Jeff never came to this room before. No one visited him.

Not even, his sister, Amy.

The person who had requested his presence was none other than the person who put him in this hell hole.

"Kent." Jeff took a seat.

"Hi, Jeff." Clarks sighed. "You're in danger. I'm not sure if you've heard, but there's been a shooter in Smallville. He's been targeting people who've been infected by the meteors."

"I'm not infected. I got my 'power' through chemistry."

"You're potentially on the list."

Jeff laughed. "Do you actually believe I think you care about my life? You put me here."

"I don't want you dead. Look, has there been any new staff? Anyone that's been acting suspicious?"

Jeff ignored the question. "Does this shooter know about you? Does he know to put you on the top of his hit list?"

"I'm trying to figure out when he's going to break in and shoot this place up. If we work together we could save your lives and capture this guy. Put him away for good. Will you help?"

"Oh, so this is a truce meeting." Jeff leaned back and folded his arms. "You going to break us out?"

"I can't do that."

"Then what's in it for me?"

"Your life."

"Look around, Kent. What life did you leave me?"

"You're the one who tried to kill Lex."

"Yeah." Jeff chuckled again. "That rich brat deserves what's coming to him."

"What do you mean?"

"Your buddy there's on deck for some therapy. The electric kind if you know what I mean."

That put a priceless look of fear on Kent's face. Jeff laughed as the true freak ran off.

LLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL

After Clark left, Jeff was escorted back to his room. It was a nicer cell than most of the other inmates. The psychologists allowed him personal items as a reward for good behavior. His bed had comfy sheets; Jeff had a stack of his favorite books. But the real prize had been that the doctors allowed him to bring in some potted plants. Jeff had brought in an aloe, two cacti, and various other succulents, but his favorite was the mint. They were lined up on the shelf, which Jeff had fitted with appropriate light.

The plants were due for some water. As Jeff grabbed his watering can, he turned to see two people standing in his doorway: Eric Summers and Ian Randall. Both had been classmates of his at Smallville High.

Three visitors in one day. I've never been so popular.

"Heard you had a talk with Clark Kent. What'd he want?" Eric asked.

"What do you care?"

"He asked to see us too," Ian said. "We both turned down the invite."

"The three of us have something in common. Kent's the one that put us in here. And he can be the one to get us out."

"He didn't seem into that suggestion."

Ian walked over to the shelf. "I didn't say willingly. Word on the block is you can get stuff from the outside." Ian rubbed a mint leaf between his hands.

"Don't. Touch. The plants," Jeff warned.

"Will it eat me?" Ian's laughter faded as Jeff kept his steady stare.

"What's in it for me?" Jeff asked when Ian retreated to the door.

Ian and Eric shared a smile. "How does freedom sound?"